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Molly’s assistant looked at the object. “It’s a memorial vial. You know, you carry ashes of a loved one in it.”
“I’ll open it up in the morgue under the hood,” Molly said.
Liv dropped it into an evidence bag and handed it to her sister. “Molly, let me know what you find inside. Be careful, the captain noted a garlic smell on scene.”
Jackson swallowed hard. He watched the crime lab begin their job of molding and excavating the pit where the body was found, then he turned to his fellow firefighters, all of them exhausted. “All right, Station 3, let's finish this up,” he called out. “We need to make sure this place is cold before we can put this baby to bed.”
He and his station began to systematically dismantle parts of the ruined structure, carefully checking for any hidden hot spots. Luke, Jackson’s lieutenant, used a thermal imaging camera to scan the area. The group worked with pike poles and Halligans to pull apart debris.
Jackson dropped to his knees, his gloved hands sifting through a pile of smoking, charred wood. As he pushed aside a piece of burnt timber, he noticed a faint glow beneath it. “Hold on,” he said, his voice muffled by the mask. “We've got something here.”
The team gathered around their captain, exposed the embers, and began to douse them with water. The embers hissed, and gas rose as water hit the heat, but the flame refused to be extinguished. “Livvy, sample this. It won’t go out. Smell?”
Michael shoveled the timber that refused to extinguish into one of the airtight evidence cans. “Hmm, good eye, Captain.”
After what seemed like forever, Jackson gave the signal. “Pack up and head back to the station.”
At the station, their relief was waiting. “Heard it was a tough one,” Turk, the fresh duty captain, said.
Jackson nodded and gathered the company around the engine, their faces stained with sweat, soot, and exhaustion. “Three critical and one dead body.” His voice was heavy with the night’s events.
Nate, the station’s paramedic, chimed in, “Docs say the three critical patients will pull through. We got them out in time. That counts for something.”
Jackson ran a hand through his hair, dislodging bits of ash and grime. “You're right, Nate.” He sighed. “Everyone make sure the rigs are ready for the next alarm. I need a shower and some clean air. Then, Turk, I'll brief you on what the cops found.”
After a long shower, he sat in his office with Turk. “Livvy found a glass vial like the one we found. She stopped me from saying anything about it. The phoenix is the same as the rattle I showed you.”
Turk sighed. “You are going to have to put it in the report.”
“But I don’t need to say we found something like it.” Jackson opened his computer to complete the report on the fire. “I found an area of the burn that refused to go out. And there was a garlic smell.”
“Shit, calcium carbide or phosphorous.” Turk tapped his finger against the desk. “Arsenic? Was there a lot of wallpaper or old ornaments?”
“Enough.” Jackson yawned.
Turk smiled. “You and Olivia?”
“Hmm, I hope so.” Jackson frowned. “You know anything about Wheaton?”
“Moved out here from New York about five years ago,” Turk said. “Why?”
“No reason.” Jackson pushed up from the desk. “I need to go home to bed.”
Eight
Monday, September 25th
The early morning sun shone across the training grounds. A group of aspiring firefighters and rigorous training awaited her. Dressed in standard-issue gear, she joined the group, blending in with the other trainees.
As she approached the registration area, a familiar man caught her eye—her family friend. She referred to him as her uncle, Fred Lamply, Chief of the Waverly Junction Fire Department.
A smile spread across his face when he noticed Olivia. “Well, well, look who we have here! Welcome to the academy, recruit.” He pulled her into a hug.
“Hey, Uncle Fred. Didn't expect to see you here.” She kissed his cheek.
“Your mom asked me to watch out for you. Glad to have you, kiddo. Ready to dive into the action?”
Olivia chuckled, then leaned in with a playful grin. “Just promise me you won't go around telling everyone you've got the chief's niece in the class.”
